Thursday, September 29, 2011

Which is kind-of appropriate, because Darkness Unbound—the first of the Dark Angels series--has somewhat magical beginnings. Why? Well, did you ever have a story where a very minor character leaps onto the page fully formed and threatens to take over the story? The main character in the Dark Angel series—Risa Jones—did just that. She was supposed to be a very minor side character in the Riley Jenson series, but the minute she appeared on the page choo-chooing her way around the living room I knew the muse had more in mind for her. By the time she'd become a Coke addicted, cake loving, sweet talking two year old, I'd already sold the first couple of books of her series.

But the other reason the series has somewhat magical beginnings is the first line in Darkness Unbound. I live in the hills, so there's lots of rain, fog and other weather unpleasantness that happens. And every morning, particularly in winter, I drive over the mountain through that unpleasantness to go the gym. On one particular morning we had a real pea souper. I'm talking fog so thick you couldn't see two inches in front of your nose let alone another car until you were almost on it. It felt surreal--almost like you were in another world--especially when cars went past, because you could barely see more than a dark blur that eddied the fog. It really did look like creatures in the fog—well, at least to someone with a writer's imagination :)

But that's how the first line of Darkness Unbound came to me—in that fog, with the shadows moving through it, I suddenly thought... I've always seen the reapers.

Of course, Risa isn't no ordinary woman, so her reaper is somewhat unusual too. He's a Mijai—a half naked, sword bearing dark warrior. But you'll have to read Darkness Unbound to find out more about him!

To celebrate Darkness Unbound's release this week, I'm giving away a signed copy of the book. All you have to do is comment about side characters that have captured your imagination—either in a book you're writing, or one that you're reading!

"Italian traditions form the foundation of this engaging novel that is filled with both humor and sadness as the heroine tries to find herself by engaging in a liaison with a much younger man.

When Gabriella catches her husband, Tony, in an affair, she throws him out. When super-sexy Italian hunk Dave initiates sex with her in the exclusive penthouse she’s showing him, she’s ripe and ready. He’s young and gorgeous and thinks she’s 30. Despite the fact that she’s actually 11 years his senior, she embarks on a glorious affair. He even buys the expensive apartment, which thrills her boss. Complications arise when she’s asked to be matron of honor at her best friend’s wedding. Who is the best man but her ex? This causes Dave’s ugly green monster to stir, because he’s fallen in love with Gabby and wants to marry her -- but Tony decides he wants her too."

Saturday, September 24, 2011

How did you come to write speculative fiction? What attracted you to the genre?
I tend to write across various genres so I'm published in erotica, mystery and women's fiction, but I read heavily in paranormal because I like books with alpha males, intense love situations and fast pacing. Quite a lot of my stories have a paranormal element, but I find I'm drawn to writing deeper, heavier stories where both the hero and heroine have powers. It's a writing challenge for me to create the world that they live in and all the rules that go with it. I also like bringing my alpha male to his knees and creating a kick-ass heroine, which I think is essential if an author wants to sell to New York.

Please tell us a little about your road to publication.

From the time I was in my teens I wanted to be published by Harlequin and I achieved that when I sold Psychic Sex to Harlequin Spice Briefs. I didn't start to write regularly until I was in my thirties when my daughter went to preschool. Before that I was always working and studying my university degrees. I found the moment I started to write everyday was when my skills picked up and I began to sell. Although I sold my first book, Man Hunt to Black Lace now Random House, I had a long break before I sold my next because I didn't follow up the first book with a similar one in the same genre. I didn't give up though, which is an important lesson for all writers.

You have taken the route of self publishing with your latest release Highlander. How did this come about? Is self publishing the only avenue you are taking at the moment?

When I was in New York last July, I attended the RWA National conference. At one of the PAN (published author network) sessions, agent, Steven Axelrod said that he's been in publishing thirty years but he's seen more change in the last two than the thirty. Authors are self-publishing their backlists and books they haven't or don't wish to sell to publishers because Amazon gives a seventy percent royalty rate instead of the eight percent the big NY publishers give on print and in many cases ebooks. Smaller houses have better ebook rates of thirty to forty percent and fifteen percent on print but not as high a sell-through as the big seven publishing houses. Several authors report that they're making more money now than they have ever made, so I wanted to give self publishing a try, plus it's a medium that suits short erotic stories.

I'm writing a Forbidden Fantasy series because I love writing short stories that are off kilter and explore women's sexual fantasies, the ones we don't admit to.

Highlander explores the forced marriage scenario with a fierce alpha conquerer in a kilt who the heroine tames.

The added bonus is that I really enjoyed designing my own covers. I've discovered the Jimmy Thomas Website. Had a couple of lessons from my critical teen on how to photoshop in the text and convert the covers to the various sizes needed. "I just showed you that, Mum. Why don't you remember?"

I taught myself how to upload to smashwords, amazon and ARe books. Smashwords has an option where the author can choose to have their work uploaded to most of the e platforms, which gives the work wide exposure, especially as more and more people are reading on kindles, nooks and other readers.

I enjoy learning and having full creative control - read control freak. The stories are selling well and every time I release another, the originals seem to sell more too.

I'm also completing a single title paranormal, as my agent is currently shopping the partial around NY. I let my agent Marisa Corvisiero of the L. Perkins Agency know what I'm working on and she decides if she wants to submit it. So essentially, I'm self-publishing, selling to smaller publishing houses and my agent is pitching to the bigger NY publishing houses for me.

You’ve had a wide range of covers, any particular one your favourite?
At the moment I love anything with Jimmy Thomas on the cover. I think I've developed an addiction to his covers, especially when he is in period costume. He's the quintessential romance alpha hero for me. My next Forbidden Fantasy, The Lover, has a to die for cover.

Are you a plotter? Pantser? Or somewhere in-between?
I always know my beginning, then I picture my hero. I know who my heroine is, but in order to know what makes her tick, I have to interview her. After that, I interview my hero, so I understand what his strengths and weaknesses are. In particular, I have to know what wounds him emotionally. What qualities attract him to the heroine? Why does he want her love? What is he prepared to do to get it? What is at risk for both hero and heroine? Is the conflict strong enough to sustain the novel length? After that I tend to write into the mist even though I'd like to be a plotter. I'd save more time if I plotted efficiently but I'd also be bored.

Do you have a favourite of your characters?
I'm really enjoying my demon hero, Agrat from my current work in progress, The Demon Prince because of his complexity. He has been sentenced to be trapped in a statue for three thousand years because he fell in love with his father's virgin concubine. In this lifetime, when he finds the heroine, Phoebe, civilisation has changed and women are in charge of their own destiny. Perfect foils for my alpha male who is used to taking control. He was bred from a demon princess to be a warrior and make war on other tribes but in this lifetime he has to prove to the heroine, Phoebe, that he is safe enough to love.

What is your favourite part of the process of writing?
I love it when the words are really flowing, my fingers are flying over the keyboard as I'm watching my characters in my mind's eye.

This sounds a bit unusual but i also really enjoy it when I channel my characters in dreams. I did this with Highlander. Even when I woke, The Black Douglas was still talking to me about his story. I don't consider myself to be a historical writer so Highlander is a modern take on the 1300s and I have romanticised the story, but the whole experience was unusual because when I did my internet research, I found out that the person I dreamed about existed.

What can we expect from Cathleen Ross in the future?
I'll keep doing my erotic short Forbidden Fantasy series, more paranormal books, plus I'm going to take on up to ten students because I'm a dedicated teacher and I love developing writers. I've set up my rates so that they are affordable and students get some one on one contact time. I've taught writing for a tertiary provider for several years now and I noticed that the contact time was essential to improving student's work and motivation, especially if they are serious about selling their work.

Who are your favourite authors?
At the moment JR Ward but I'm always interested to discover more paranormal series writers because I can happily read the same authors for months on end and not get bored.

What are you currently reading?
I'm reading my way through the whole JR Ward Blackdagger Brotherhood series.

Do you have a favourite spec fiction movie or TV series?
My daughter and I are watching the whole of the Supernatural series back on back.

Do you have advice for emerging writers?
Emerging writers should read, read, read. Join RWA and a good critique group where there are some published writers who are kind and are prepared to helpfully critique/not crush the writer. They should have a good knowledge of grammar, be prepared to practise their craft on a regular basis and accept advice from experienced writers.

~~~

Thanks, Cathleen.

Please visit Cathleen at her website, where you can get details of her Forbidden Fantasy series.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Welcome to September’s What We Are Reading column. Today, we have Jenny Schwartz, Maggie Mundy, Jess Anastasi and Maree Anderson.

Jenny Schwartz
~A Clockwork Christmas~Jenny Schwartz, JK Coi, PG Forte, Stacy GailI never seem to be the lucky reader who scores pre-release copies, so I'm thrilled to have a sneak peek of my fellow steampunk anthology authors' novellas. I'm reading "Far From Broken" by JK Coi, "This Winter Heart" by PG Forte and "Crime Wave in a Corset" by Stacy Gail, all to be found in Carina Press's "A Clockwork Christmas". You can find out more at https://www.facebook.com/AClockworkChristmas

Maggie Mundy
~Write it Forward~Bob MayerI bought Bob Mayer’s book at the conference. It is called Write it Forward. Like many of you I have read many books on writing and there comes a time when they all blend in with each other. This book is different in that it is more about the writer than the book you are writing and the craft. It is a book about motivation and looking at writing as a business. It tells you how to set goals, and how you have a better chance of achieving them. It also looks at the personality traits of writers and how you use them to help achieve your goals. I think some people could find the book over simplistic, and I reckon it is more valuable for people who are at a point in their writing journey where they feel lost for direction. He does not give you the direction but shows you some tools to discover it in yourself. I will give more of an update when I have finished the book. So far I am finding it helpful.

Jess Anastasi
~Definitely Dead~ Charlaine HarrisI've just finished reading Definitely Dead, book 6 in Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series. I'll be going on to All Together Dead as soon as I can get it from the library! I'm not a big fan of 1st person POV, which is probably why I hadn't read these books sooner, despite all the good things I'd heard about them. I also happen to be a fan of the TV series, which doesn't hurt. But, I've enjoyed the differences between the books and the TV adaptation, even as I've also enjoyed the similarities. I've never read anyone who has written 1st person POV as well as Ms. Harris does. Most of the time I'm so drawn into the story that I forget I'm even reading 1st person POV, which to my mind makes a brilliant writer. I can't wait to get through the next five books to see what happens to Sookie. And since I'm firmly camped on the Team Eric side of things, I'm living in hope that sometime soon she'll end up with him for good... guess I'll have to wait and see what happens. For those of you who've been living under a rock (like me) and not got around to reading this best-selling series yet, I highly recommend it for anyone who likes vampires, werewolves and something a bit different.

Maree Anderson
~Kiss of Snow~Nalini SinghGot Nalini’s Kiss of Snow out from the library. It’s a hardback, so it was a little out of my price-range to buy — plus, as I have all the rest of her Psy/Changeling books in paperback, it’d bug the hell out of me to have a hardback mucking up the flow of all the other paperbacks in the series on my bookshelf. (Yes, I am THAT an*l.)

The thing about hardbacks is, they’re soooo expensive to buy in New Zealand it’s a huge investment in a book — even if for me, Nalini’s books are always ALWAYS! a sure thing. My mom has bought be a few hardbacks over the years. And although I’ve not enjoyed many of them because they’re not my kind of read, I’m loath to give them away because I know how expensive they are. So me and hardbacks? Let’s just say, we don’t really get on.

All I can say after reading Kiss of Snow is that if I had just said “To hell with it!” and gone out and dropped $35 on the hardback, it would have been money incredibly well spent. And I would have happily made room for it on my bookshelf by rearranging my shelves to cope with a hardback in amongst the paperbacks. And I would not be lending this book out to anyone, in case it didn’t come back to me.

I can’t even tell you how much I loved this book. I got to have Hawke and Sienna’s story — and what a story it was! I got to revisit all my favorite Psy/Changeling characters. I got to have a secondary romance that was just perfection. I got everything I could ever want from this story and a whole heap more. Nalini is like a fine wine: Her writing just keeps getting better.

So is this hardback worth the money? Hell, yes.

(And now I have to go buy the book. And rearrange my bookshelf. Sigh….)

Thursday, September 22, 2011

The Goblin King is a story that arrived several years ago at 2am while I was feeding a restless baby. I scribbled down the idea, and in the morning (real morning by daylight, while baby was swatting at toys) I wrote the first scene. I then realised I wasn’t at a stage in my writing career where I could pull off the story. As fascinating as a cursed hero is, making a goblin heroic was going to be a challenge.

Zip forward another couple of years to when I was looking for my next project, and I pulled this idea back out of my idea box. This time I knew I could make it work. The heroine had a name change, and Roan’s back story solidified. By this time the paranormal market was saturated with Vampires and Angels were becoming popular and while I was having fun I didn’t know how I was going to sell a paranormal romance featuring goblins.

But I held onto the belief that because it was something different it would sell. Now with only a few more sleeps until The Goblin King is released on the 1st of October (it’s available for pre-order at Amazon, The Book Depository and Booktopia) I’m giving away a copy to celebrate, the winner will be drawn on Wednesday 28 September. Just tell me when you get your best ideas.

Cursed by a Druid millennia ago, Roan lives a bleak existence in the Shadowlands,
desperately trying to retain his soul and not succumb to the goblin horde.

When a beautiful human summons him to grant a wish, he sees a glimmer of hope. But will she ever agree to be his queen?

Ms. Husk has written a fantastic story that combines sensuality with tension between Etienne and Maria that blend together to create a superb story. Her characters are intelligent, believable and interesting. The plot is intriguing, compelling and fascinating. I am delighted to add this book to my keeper collection and I am definitely recommending this book to others."

Saturday, September 17, 2011

How did you come to write speculative fiction? What attracted you to the genre?
Well firstly I have to own up to being a closet Sci-Fi reader. That was a huge influence for me as a reader and I think it just kind of evolved from there. I mean I have a thing for Vampires and things that go bump in the night, but starship captains....Oh yeah baby. That is where I am at J
When I started writing, it was just a natural thing that it would be the genre I stumbled into. And I think that as a writer you need to do what draws you. For me there was never any question.

Are you a plotter? Pantser? Or somewhere in-between?
I’d love to be a plotter, but I am quickly learning that much as I might roll the ideas around in my head, at the end of the day, these darn characters seem to want to write their own stories. By the time I get to putting words on paper I have an idea which way and who but that is pretty much about it.
Yep, I’m a panster.

Do have a favourite of your characters?
I always had a chuckle at the authors who said my favourite is the one I am working with. To an extent yes, I guess that is true. But......
I love Jemma. She is so broken at the beginning of the book I am working on. I was sooo looking forward to writing her story and it is finished in draft format. She was kind of hard to come to terms with. She’s not a “nice” person at the beginning but it is the peeling of layers with her that makes her such a great character to investigate. Of course I also have a weakness for Chowd too, who you will eventually meet in the first book.....if and when it sees the light of day....
Physically he looks just like us.....but.....(is that giving something away? Lol!) My daughter constantly looks at his picture on my office wall and goes... “He’s hot!” But beyond that there are so many layers to him too......

What are you currently working on?
I have book 2 in draft form....fromthe Warriors of the Elector series, book 3 has been started and I have this cool little vampire concept I have been playing with. I think it is one I will continue with once I get my Electors out of the way. J From that there are 2 short stories waiting for me to come back and polish them off before they are ready to do something with as well....
Never one to let anything rest, I have to have something on the backburner!

What is your favourite part of the process of writing?
Favourite? I’m supposed to have a favourite? Lol! I missed the memo!

I love the planning that goes on in my head, throwing around ideas, but I think ultimately it is something to do with when I get to the point that I am done. First Draft done that is. Because that means photo time. It proves to me and my family that I am well and truly on the way.

For me that is a big step achieved. It’s not finished but I know I will get it completed.

What can we expect from Imogene Nix in the future?
Hmm... hard question. I guess I really want to finish my trilogy first and then next up is finish the vampire novel that is flying around my head. I have it started but I think it might be a different thing entirely to the way I have written my Elector books. I love the concepts that it is calling me to look into.
I have an order as long as my arm for books, but one thing I would like at some point to try is a YA book. (Actually I think my daughters would love that) I really don’t know if I could manage anything that isn’t paranormal/fantasy because that is what I love and find intriguing.

Probably if I went to a more mainstream storyline without the fantasy and scifi concepts it would be a Romantic Suspense....but you never know really. I think it is something that will depend on where I am at and what I want to play with in terms of concepts and ideas.

Who are your favourite authors?
Hmm there are a few....Anne McCaffrey & Todd McCaffrey. Piers Anthony caught my attention when I was younger. I really love the works of Lynn Viehl, Nora Roberts and especially her JD Robb “In Death” series. Julia Spencer-Fleming ..... I just love her writing and the by play between her central characters, Russ & Clare make such an unlikely pair!
Who else? I love the collaboration “Cat Adams”. All time favourite though is Linnea Sinclair. The way she builds the worlds she writes about....

What are you currently reading?
Stephanie Lauren’s “Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue”, Tracey O’Hara’s “Death’s Sweet Embrace” but I have a To Be Read Pile that you just wouldn’t believe!

Do you have a favourite spec fiction movie or TV series?
I should have known this was coming! Star Trek Voyager (yes I even have the uniform and communicator badge in my closet!), Castle (it is the Nathan Fillion thing happening), Firefly....I don't watch a lot of TV but what I do watch is amazing. I also need to finish watching the UK version of Being Human....

Do you have advice for emerging writers?
Being a beginning writer myself, the thing I found hardest was having faith in myself. Setting realistic goals, setting aside time and space to write.

Find somewhere quiet....nothing worse than having the kids walk in while you are in the middle of writing an intimate scene. J (Been there done that & really should get the tshirt!)
Write. Get your ideas onto paper then visualise them. See them. Live and breathe your characters. Make them real to you.

Be prepared to accept criticism of your work. It is only by hearing the truth that your work will improve and you will learn.

Join a group that writes, if not what you write, then has a similar thread and form friendships with these writers. They will give you advice, ideas and push you to do your best work. The RWA and Darksiders have given me the most amazing support.

But ultimately? See yourself as a writer. Being an author is not about what everyone else expects you to be, but how you present yourself as a craftsperson. If you don’t believe in you, no one else will either.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

This mythological figure was suggested by Rhyll, a member of RWAus’ paranormal group. I had no idea who Baba Yaga was. But now I know some from research online. I would have loved to check out books on this topic, but I didn’t have the time.

Baba Yaga is a figure in East European mythology, including Slavic and Russian cultures.

The name of Baba Yaga is composed of two elements. Baba means "grandmother" or "old woman" in most Slavic languages. Yaga is probably a diminutive of the feminine name Jadwiga, in turn, is a Slavicized form of the Germanic Hedwig. Another version is saying the name of Baba Yaga comes from the old Russian verb yagat which means to abuse, to find fault.* Her spelling has different variation depending on which region.

She is cannibalistic witch who lives in a hut (usually with no doors or windows) which has long overgrown chicken legs. The hut will only lower at her command. Surrounding the hut is a fence which has skulls of her victims (nice, right?). In one version, she has a ginger bread house (sound familiar?).

Apparently there were nomadic tribes who used a similar design of cabin for various reasons.

Sami hut

Horsemen portrayed as actual horses.

Baba Yaga is portrayed as a little, woman with a huge nose and long teeth. she flies on a mortar using the pestle as a rudder. She sweeps sweeping away the tracks behind her with a broom made of silver birch, and a host of spirits follows her. She also has three horsemen as servants, The White Horseman, the Red Horseman, and the Black Horseman (though in another version, it is the same horseman who changes colour during the day).

This artwork doesn't
depict her as ugly.

In some versions, she was said to have been a good fairy but then was degraded to a witch. I wonder whether this is a reflection of old religions dying and being replaced by Christianity and hence, her being seen as evil because she was a pagan figure. indeed she has appeared in tales as the strange yet wise figure providing advice to the hero on their quest. Seeking out her aid is usually portrayed as a dangerous act. An emphasis is placed on the need for being prepared, of pure spirit, and be polite. A hard bargainer she will eat those who don’t fulfil their agreements (ouch!)

From film Bartrok
the Magnificent

She may have been another version of the Corn Mother, and therefore a figure of fertility. In this version, the moon’s cycle indicated when to approach her. At the full moon, her door was open, as the witch was sated, happy and pregnant. When the moon wanes, her womb and belly are empty. So danger to anyone who approached because they could become her next meal. So maybe this second part of the myth, is where the “eater of children” comes from.

Baba Yaga is used as a stock character by authors of modern Russian fairy tales, and from the 1990s in Russian fantasy. She is also a favorite subject of Russian films and cartoons. The animated film Bartok the Magnificent features Baba Yaga as a main character but not as an antagonist.

Baba Yaga is not good, but is not entirely evil. She is “the Arch-Crone, the Goddess of Wisdom and Death, the Bone Mother. Wild and untamable, she is a nature spirit bringing wisdom and death of ego, and through death, rebirth.” #